At a time when Indiana’s governor and other top elected state officials have cut off communication with embattled Attorney General Curtis Hill, there was at least one group that was willing to meet with him.

Then the next day, when IndyStar began asking about it, the caucus chairwoman disinvited him.

The group routinely has met with the attorney general and other state officials every legislative session, but this event appeared different: The legislature’s black staff and interns were also listed as attending. Rep. Robin Shackleford, chairwoman of the black caucus, confirmed to IndyStar that she canceled Hill's appearance but would not disclose why or elaborate on why the legislatures's black staff and interns were to attend the meeting.

Several legislative staffers, who were not invited to the meeting, told IndyStar on the condition they not be identified that they felt the caucus’s decision to meet with Hill was inappropriate and upsetting in light of the allegations.

Hill, a Republican, has denied any wrongdoing related to those allegations. A special prosecutor in October declined to press charges, saying the witnesses were credible but that he lacked evidence of Hill's intent.

Ex-staffer surprised Hill meeting was ever scheduled

Former Senate Democratic deputy chief of staff Elise Shrock, a lobbyist since 2016, was among those surprised the caucus had considered meeting with Hill.

"Staff, especially women staffers, deserve to be more than an afterthought when it comes to work events," she said. "I am glad to hear this situation has been remedied, but I hope that the well-being of the staffers, especially when their colleagues have already been victimized by a sitting elected official, would come first."

Shackleford told an IndyStar reporter she called Hill's assistant Tuesday to cancel his appearance Feb. 13. She said the caucus itself still would meet that day.

Caucus official: Not meeting with Hill 'in our best interest'

Shackleford denied that the allegations against Hill or concerns by staff members played a role. She said the caucus would not have time to reschedule the meeting with Hill during this session.

"I decided it would be in our best interest to not have him come at this time," Shackleford said.

Democratic State Rep. Mara Candelaria Reardon was among those who accused Hill of inappropriately touching them at an end-of-legislative-session party in March.

She said Shackleford's decision was appropriate. She pointed out the black caucus was among those calling Hill to resign.

“If they cancelled it," she said, "I would give them kudos for canceling … because the black caucus called for his resignation, and I think canceling a meeting or not meeting with him is consistent with their previous position asking him to resign."

Candelaria Reardon was a member of the black caucus prior to this session. Neither she nor Shackleford would explain why she left.

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Gabrielle McLemore (in back, at left) and Niki DaSilva, take an elevator as Curtis Hill watches another speaker at a presentation on the start to the legislative session, Indiana Statehouse, Indianapolis, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018. The women, plus two others, have accused Hill, Indiana's Attorney General of inappropriately touching them at a party earlier this year.(Photo: Robert Scheer/IndyStar)

The caucus, which consists of 13 Democrats, routinely meets with elected officials and state agency department heads to discuss its agenda during the course of the legislative session.

A caucus digital calendar entry obtained by IndyStar shows members have eight meetings this month, including the one with Hill. The entry reads: "IBLC meeting with Attorney General Hill; black staff and interns also attending."

That's a difference from other entries on the calendar. The caucus met Tuesday, for instance, with Senate Minority Leader Tim Lanane, House Speaker Brian Bosma and Ball State President Geoffrey Mearns. None of those entries noted staff were invited or attending.

It's unclear why staff, in addition to the caucus, had been scheduled to meet with Hill. The caucus met with Hill last session before the allegations came to light but not with a wider group of staff members.

Shackleford gave no reason they were invited to IndyStar, other than to indicate the meeting was preliminarily scheduled and hadn't been fully vetted. She said she was unaware of any staff concerns until IndyStar reached out to her.

Shrock, the former staffer, said it's a shame many staff members don't feel comfortable raising the concerns publicly or with legislative leaders.

"I don't blame them," she said. "There isn't much of a precedent in the Indiana General Assembly where that works out in their favor. We have to do better."

Shackleford's decision Tuesday to disinvite Hill from the meeting was met with confusion and dismay by some caucus members — exposing a point of contention within the caucus.

Several members said they were unaware of the cancellation until told by an IndyStar reporter and planned to speak with Shackleford. Some advocated to her for it to be rescheduled.

Rep. John Bartlett, D-Indianapolis, said the caucus should be meeting with Hill. He's the elected attorney general, Bartlett pointed out, and so has influence over legal matters important the caucus.

"He rules over all legal matters and enforcement of laws," Bartlett said. "We have some issues with laws that are being enforced in our opinion unfairly when it comes to African Americans. He’s the one we talk to."

Sens. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago, and Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis, echoed that sentiment, saying the attorney general has influence over issues of importance to African Americans.

"He’s an elected official just like the governor," Randolph said. "The attorney general has influence on our agenda. We’re meeting with them all."

Lawmakers and state officials still are dealing with the fallout of the allegations against Hill.

While Gov. Eric Holcomb, House Speaker Brian Bosma, former Senate Pro Tempore President David Long and current Pro Tempore President Rodric Bray have all asked Hill to resign, Republicans have been unwilling to start impeachment proceedings. They said it would be an unnecessary distraction during the session.

Rep. Ed DeLaney, D-Indianapolis, said he's drafted a resolution for impeachment and has been joined so far by Democrats Matt Pierce of Bloomington and Ryan Dvorak of South Bend. The three have passed a letter to lawmakers from both parties asking for co-sponsors, and it's unclear how many have or will sign on.

The effort has been met with some resistance. Bartlett, for instance, said the allegations happened after the 2018 session concluded and are a legal, and not a legislative, matter. He for one will not sign onto the effort to impeach Hill.

"If the allegations are true that would be an issue for the prosecutor or the police," he said.